Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL, 2026 Apr 25 Full score card

SIX! Salil Arora finishes things off with a nonchalant hit. SRH win by 5 wickets and make it four wins in a row. Full and sliding onto the pads from around the wicket, Salil keeps a still head and plays the pick-up shot off the pads without any fuss. It sails over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Hits the hard length, over off. Aniket arches back and plays the ramp with an open bat face for a single.

Wide! Sprayed down leg, on a length. Aniket Verma is beaten for pace on the glance.

Honing in on the off stump, on a good length. Salil angles it behind point for a single.

And all of a sudden, SRH have lost both the set batters in the same over. With only 9 runs needed in 12 balls, Aniket Verma walks in at number 7. Nandre Burger (3-0-41-0) will bowl the penultimate.

OUT! CAUGHT! Not the best of balls, but Brijesh Sharma will take it. Brijesh goes searching for the yorker, but it comes out as a high full toss, on middle. Klaasen swings across the line but does not quite go hard at it. He just shovels it to deep square leg, where Ravi Bishnoi runs in off the ropes and gets low out in front to take the catch. Klaasen has been asked to wait as the umpires want to check the height of the full toss. The ball is below the waist, and it is a fair delivery. Heinrich cannot finish the job himself. SRH lose their 5th wicket and are left needing 9 runs from 12 balls.

Wide given. A marginal call, but it goes in favour of the batter. Brijesh Sharma is not happy with it, and Riyan Parag sends it upstairs. Flirting with the tramline, on a length, Heinrich Klaasen lets it through to the keeper. Klaasen had not moved, and some part of the ball is inside the wide guideline. It is a fair delivery.

Low full toss, tailing back in at the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen just angles the drive to Riyan Parag at a catching cover position.

Another well-executed yorker, on middle. Salil bunts it out to long on for a single.

Too little too late for the Royals. But Brijesh at least gets something to smile. Salil Arora is in at number 6.

OUT! LBW! Struck on the boot, and the finger is raised. A searing yorker by Brijesh Sharma with a bit of tail back in at the toes. Nitish Kumar Reddy hurriedly drops his bat, but he is late in doing so. The ball goes under the bat and strikes Reddy on the left boot. Reddy reviews almost immediately. No bat is involved on UltraEdge, and the Ball Tracking has the ball crashing into the leg pole. The on-field decision is upheld, and Reddy is given the marching orders. SRH are 219/4, needing 10 more runs.

SIX! Into the stands! Brijesh Sharma bowls the leg-cutter into the surface, over middle. This sits up to be hit, just below the chest. Nitish Kumar Reddy hangs back and unleashes the pull way over square leg for a biggie. The 50-run stand comes up between this pair.

FOUR! In the gap! Deshpande gets the line wrong as he serves a low full toss, slanting into the right-hander. Heinrich Klaasen hangs low to take the ball on the full and whips it all along the ground. Picks the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four. 20 runs from the over. 16 more needed for SRH.

Deshpande responds well as he slips in the yorker, on middle. NKR jams it out to cover and takes a single.

SIX! A skimmer from Reddy. Deshpande digs it in short but takes pace off, outside off. It comes at shoulder height to Reddy, who stands up tall on his toes and pulls it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a flat six.

Full and skidding through, around the off stump. Reddy shanks it off the inner half of the bat but it goes right between deep mid-wicket and long on. That allows him to sneak in the second run.

Stays full, on off and middle. Klaasen swings hard at it but the bat turns in his hand. He gets it past the bowler's right and picks up a single.

SIX! Incredible shot! Deshpande goes full, on the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen clears the front leg slightly and collapses his back knee. He opens up the front hip to go inside out over cover for a six.

Tushar Deshpande (2-0-23-0) returns into the attack. SRH need 36 runs from 24 balls.

Low full toss, on the leg stump. This is swiped to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Follows the batter with a yorker as he backs away, does Brijesh. Heinrich Klaasen drops his bat down and squeezes it out to the right of long on for a brace.

Leg-cutter, on a length, on middle. Klaasen plays it with a straight bat back to the bowler.

Low full toss again, on middle. Heinrich mistimes the drive to cover.

Keeps it nice and full, on middle. Nitish Kumar Reddy knocks it to long off and crosses over.

Low full toss, on middle. Heinrich Klaasen pushes it to long on for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! That's Jofra Archer done for the night, and SRH will be relieved. He has looked the only genuine threat with the ball, and from here, with 41 needed off 30, it is SRH's game to lose. RR have not helped their cause with errors in the field, but it is about believing they can still pull something special out of the hat. Brijesh Sharma is brought back into the attack after the break.

FOUR! Glorious hit! On a slightly fuller length, around the off pole. Nitish Kumar Reddy presses forward, presents a straight bat and drives it down the ground. Jofra sticks his left hand out by bending low on the follow-through. Only manages to get it parried behind as it races to the fence, beating long off to his right. Archer is done with his spell. 4-0-34-2 are his bowling figures.

Hard length on middle and leg, Nitish looks to work it to the leg side but closes the bat face too early, gets a leading edge that rolls on the bounce straight to Jadeja at backward point.

Well-directed short ball, on off. Heinrich Klaasen controls the pull shot along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single.

Hard length into the pitch, on top of middle. Reddy hops on the toes and dinks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Short of a length, outside off, Klaasen cuts to deep cover-point for a single.

STRAIGHT UP AND DROPPED! Brijesh is the man who shells one now. This is not going down well for the Royals and the frustration is visible in the RR camp. On a back of a length on off, rearing up off the pitch. Reddy pulls but is late on it, gets a top edge that balloons miles into the air to deep third. Brijesh tries to settle under it. First moves to his right and then to his left, but misjudges the trajectory of the ball and makes a meal of it. The TV umpire checks the boundary cushions and finds his feet were not in contact with the ropes. Just a single.

At 140.3 kph, this is pitched full and just outside off. Heinrich Klaasen chips the ball on the bounce to mid off. Looked like the ball held up a bit on this occasion.

On a good length, around off, Nitish Kumar Reddy works it to sweeper cover for a single.

FOUR! A rare loosener from Burger and gets the treatment! Wide line on a good length, outside off. Nitish Kumar Reddy flashes hard at it by getting on the toes and cuts it over backward point for a cracking four. Burger is not happy with himself.

Slightly fuller, outside off, at 142.1 kph, Nitish Kumar Reddy gets on the front foot and creams it through covers. Ravi Singh comes charging across to his right from deep backward point and slides to cut it off. Two taken.

Nagging length, on off, punched into the off side off the back foot.

SIX! Helped on its way! Back of a length, from around the stumps and rearing up into his chest. Reddy stays rooted and hoicks it hard across the line, clearing the ropes at long leg comfortably.

Absolutely fantastic stuff from Archer. A wicket and just 1 run from it amid all the carnage. Back of a length around off, pace taken off. Klaasen reads it early, gets on top of the bounce, and adjusts nicely to the length by dabbing it firmly into the deck.

At 139 kph, this is a hostile short ball, over off. Heinrich Klaasen arches back to play the ramp but misses. Missed by a kitten whisker.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere. A sharp and quick bumper, around the left shoulder. Nitish Kumar Reddy fails to drop his wrists and fends it awkwardly. Gets a top edge that sails over the keeper. Brijesh Sharma gets around from deep third and slides to his left to prevent the boundary. The third umpire is called into action to check the effort, and Brijesh has done well near the ropes. Just a single.

Bangs it on a shortish length, on off. Reddy stabs it down on the off side.

On a hard length, kicking up, on leg. Nitish Kumar Reddy is squared up and drops it down the pitch.

End of a wonderful knock from Ishan Kishan. Nitish Kumar Reddy comes in next. Can RR build on this wicket and strike again quickly?

OUT! MISCUED AND CAUGHT! Archer answers the call for his team and fishes Kishan out. Banged in hard. Kishan looks to flat bat it down the ground but gets nowhere near the middle of it, with one hand coming clean off the handle. Ferreira, from long off, runs forward and dives, gets both hands to it, and rolls on the turf in his follow-through to take a fine catch. Sets an example for others in his side. Sunrisers Hyderabad are 166/3, needing 63 runs from 47 balls.

FOUR! More runs! Full and outside off. Klaasen gets forward and throws everything at it, driving hard through the gap to the right of cover for a boundary.

Wide! Short and wide. A bit of turn and it goes beyond the tramline. Heinrich Klaasen lets it pass.

Short again, outside off. Heinrich Klaasen presses back and cuts it wide of deep backward point for two.

Short outside off, punched hard off the back foot but straight to cover.

Oops! Misfield again! The Royals cannot afford this as the game is slipping away. Short and outside off, quicker at 101 kph. Kishan sits back and cuts it hard to backward point where Bishnoi gets down to his right, fumbles, and lets it through his legs. Bishnoi gets up and sprints back to flick the ball back in before the ropes, but by then, the batters cross for three runs.

Full, outside off, a bit round-armish, Heinrich Klaasen presses forward and hammers it to long off for a single.

Pitched slightly fuller, on middle. Heinrich Klaasen backs away and knocks it to cover.

FOUR! Absolutely belted! Drags the length back, keeping the line of attack on the stumps. It is the googly, but it barely troubles Ishan, who goes deep in the crease and hammers it down the ground to long on's right for a boundary.

SIX! All the way! Flatter ball by Bishnoi, full and on middle. Ishan Kishan gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it aerially, dumping it behind deep square leg for half a dozen runs.

Quicker one, on a length, on off. Heinrich Klaasen presses back and cuts it through backward point for a run.

Shortish around off, this is stabbed into the off side.

FOUR! Well, that's some way to get off the mark! Very full, around off. Heinrich Klaasen gets crouched on the back knee and lofts it inside out over cover for a boundary. The replay shows that the ball just bounced in front of the boundary cushions.

Starts with a length ball, on leg. Ishan dinks it to the leg side, in front of square for a single.

A massive wicket for RR. The damage has been done, though. SRH are 139/2 after 10 overs. At the same stage, the Royals were 112/1. So the visitors are well and truly ahead in the game. Heinrich Klaasen is the new batter in. And here comes Ravi Bishnoi as well.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Ferreira angles it into the left-hander and tucks him up for room with a full ball. Abhishek Sharma dances down the track and clears the front leg to allow his hands through the line of the ball. He looks to go back over the bowler's head with a straight bat. He gets the height but not the distance. Jofra Archer runs in a bit at long on and has to take a step back before taking the catch over his head, and he ensures that he keeps his balance near the ropes.

Pushed through now, on a length, on middle. Kishan pushes it to long on for a run.

SIX! Excellent use of the feet! Floated up, full and on middle. Ishan Kishan shimmies down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball before going over long on for a six.

FOUR! Ishan Kishan gets to his FIFTY now. He gets a warm embrace from his partner at the other end. A bit short, on middle. Ishan goes deep in the crease and pummels it hard and wide of deep mid-wicket for a four. 3rd half-century of the season for SRH's number 3.

Speared in again, this is quicker and the length stays full. Sharma eases it to long off and crosses over.

Darted in from around the wicket, full and on leg. Abhishek drives it uppishly it to the right of long off for a couple of runs.

Donovan Ferreira is brought into the attack. Ian Bishop on air mentions that it was Bishnoi who was handed the ball, but there was a late decision to bring Donovan on. But is holding Bishnoi for long an ideal tactic?

Another low full toss, outside off. Ishan swings hard at it. Gets it more off the outer half through backward point. The sub fielder, Ravi Singh runs and slides to his right to mop it up. Two runs taken.

Low full toss, on off, this is knocked to deep point for a single.

Wide! Down leg, on a length, Sharma lets it go.

On the off stump, on a nagging length, driven on the up to extra cover.

FOUR! Nicely done and that takes Abhishek Sharma to a FIFTY. The southpaw backs up the hundred in the previous game with a fifty. This is his third consecutive fifty-plus score. Seam-up ball, going away, Sharma makes use of the angle and opens the bat face to slice it wide of backward point for a four.

FOUR! Threads it through! Brijesh comes up with the slower bumper, over middle. Abhishek Sharma waits on the back foot for the ball to arrive and unleashes the pull in front of square. Shimron Hetmyer sprints to his left at deep mid-wicket but is beaten.

Starts with a full ball, on off. Kishan firms the drive to long off and crosses over.

Will Parag continue, or bring Bishnoi into the attack? Neither. Here's Brijesh Sharma back on. Went for 19 runs off his only over so far.

Low full toss, outside off. Kishan throws his hands at the ball. The ball goes off a thickish outside edge to deep third. Single taken. SRH need 117 runs in 72 balls.

FOUR! In the gap! Deshpande looks to keep it away from the batter's arc, on a back of a length. Ishan reaches out with his hands and gets on top of it before smashing it to the left of deep point.

Very full, going away. With mid on inside the circle, Kishan looks to go up and over that man but he does not get the desired leverage. Hits it along the ground to mid on.

Just short! Deshpande pushes it across the left-hander, on the shorter side. Kishan reaches out but his weight stays on the back foot. He slaps it uppishly towards extra cover, where the ball drops short of Riyan Parag.

Slips in the yorker, at the toes. Sharma digs it out to square leg and rotates the strike. The 100-run stand comes up between this pair.

FOUR! Stand and deliver stuff! Off-cutter, running across the left-hander, on a length. Abhishek lets the ball come to him and gets his hands through to power it to the right of long off for a boundary.

Wide! This is well wide on off, on the fuller side. Abhishek Sharma lets it be.

Fuller and around leg. Abhishek nurdles it square on the leg side for another single.

FOUR! A poor delivery, and it gets the treatment. Too short, too wide on off, there to be put away and Abhishek obliges. He gets closer to the line of the ball by moving across and spanks it past extra cover for a four. The 100 is up for SRH in just 6.5 overs.

Sliding onto the pads, on a length. Kishan reaches out in front for the sweep. He toe-ends it to mid-wicket for a run.

Slows it down and this is shorter, on leg. Sharma turns it to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

Full and sliding in, on middle. This is driven to long on for one.

FOUR! All too easy for Kishan. A real half-tracker, on middle. Kishan presses deep in the crease and hammers the pull to the right of deep square leg for a four.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Time for some recalibration for the Royals. They have leaked far too many runs in the first six overs as SRH are off to a flier. All the overs so far have gone into double digits, which shows how ruthless the assault has been from Ishan and Abhishek. The hosts have been sloppy in the field and Abhishek is living a charmed life after being put down by Jadeja. With 140 runs needed off 84 balls, Riyan Parag brings himself into the attack. Possibly because of two left-handers at the crease. Will that bring a breakthrough for the Royals? Let's find out.

Gets the yorker in, outside off. Abhishek lets it go, thinking it is a wide but the ball sneaks just inside the tramline. 19 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, SRH are 89/1.

FOUR! Nicely waited to find the fence. Brijesh dishes out the leg-cutter and he goes into the surface. Sharma frees his arms and waits for the ball to arrive. Drags the pull off the front foot past mid-wicket for four more.

Low full toss, across off. Ishan reaches out and drills it to deep cover. They cross.

FOUR! Put away with disdain. Fractionally short, on middle and leg. Kishan pivots on the back foot and pulls it through backward square leg for the third four of the over.

Wide! Sharma spots Kishan backing away and that puts him off. He slips down leg again, on a good length. Ishan fails to get it away this time.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Brijesh errs in line this time, drifts down leg, on a length. Kishan hangs low and helps it fine of the man at short fine leg for four more.

FOUR! Thumped! A juicy half-volley, on off. Kishan swings through the line and cracks it down the ground. Donovan Ferreira at long on does not have a lot of ground to cover but the ball skips across the turf and he is beaten to his right.

Wide! Sprays it down leg, on a length. Ishan crouches to swing it away on the leg side but misses.

DROPPED! Jadeja, of all people in the park. This is rare, very rare. Tushar cannot believe it, Jurel is shocked, and so are many watching it. Low full toss around leg, and Abhishek opens the bat face and slices it flatly off the toe end, and goes straight to Jadeja at backward point. Jadeja gets a bit too across to his left, and despite getting both hands on it, the ball bobbles out. That was as straightforward as it could be for a catch. Abhishek gets a big reprieve.

FOUR! Clears the in-field! A rank full toss from Tushar, on the stumps. Abhishek stays leg side of the ball and slices it over the cover-point region for a boundary.

FOUR! Excellent adjustment! Seeing Abhishek run down the track, Deshpande bangs it short into the body to cramp the southpaw. Sharma arches back and nicely dabs it between the backward point and the short third fielders for a boundary.

Halt! Ishan Kishan cops a blow just above the left knee. He is in agonising pain, and the physio is out. The magic spray has done its job and Ishan is back on his feet.

Cannons it full and pitching just outside the leg stump line. Ishan looks to play the pick-up shot, but misses and the ball beats his inside edge before rapping him on the exposed area on the back knee. The ball then deflects to the mid-wicket region as Ishan hobbles in pain, but realises that a leg bye is on and rushes through to the other end, responding to Abhishek's call. The fielder collects and releases the throw to the bowling end, but it hits Kishan's right leg instead.

FOUR! That's been absolutely hammered! Fuller in length, on the stumps. Ishan Kishan gets the front leg out of the way and drills it straight back past the bowler for a boundary down the ground.

Begins with an overpitched delivery on off, Ishan carves it down to Parag at mid off.

FOUR! Cleverly done and the extra ball costs RR. Burger tries to deceive the batter with a slower bumper, on top of off. Abhishek has already charged down the track but adjusts well and lifts it over cover-point for a boundary. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between Abhishek and Ishan.

Wide! Pace off now, a bumper, over middle. Sharma moves towards the leg side and hops. He also gets his hands high to connect. The ball goes past the bat and goes on the bounce to the keeper. Abhishek feels this is too high and it should be a wide. The Ball Tracking confirms that the ball passed Abhishek over his head, and the UltraEdge confirms no bat involvement. The on-field decision is overturned to a wide.

FOUR! Powered away! This is on a back of a length, on off and middle. Sharma makes room and hammers it with a flat bat to the right of mid on for a four. The 50 comes up for SRH!

Well-directed short ball into the bodyline. Abhishek swivels and mistimes the pull shot to backward square leg.

SIX! KABOOM! On a slightly fuller length, around off. Abhishek charges down the track and smokes it flat over deep extra cover for a six.

FOUR! CHANCE GOES DOWN! Hetmyer is the guilty party, and this is the second blemish in the field by RR tonight. He just couldn't sight the ball in the lights. Length ball outside off, 141 kph. Abhishek stays leg side and looks to carve it square on the off side, but plays it uppishly and gets it off the outside half. It goes flat to deep third, where Hetmyer takes a couple of steps to his right before losing the ball in the lights. He ends up shielding his face with his hands as it flies past his left and bounces into the fence.

Slams the deck really hard by bending his back, outside off. Abhishek Sharma is rushed into the back foot square cut, but the extra bounce means the ball zips over Sharma's angled bat.

Halt! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is experiencing discomfort in his right leg. While trying to retrieve the ball on the last delivery of the previous over, he pulled up as he turned. Not a good sight as he is being helped off the field by the physio and the 12th man.

FOUR! Up and over the in-field! Serves it up there, full outside off. Ishan commits on the front foot and hammers it ruthlessly over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at cover to pick up a boundary. 12 runs off the over.

Beaten again! This is top-notch fast bowling. In the channel of off, angling across the batter, on a good length. Ishan's feet go nowhere, and he tries to smash it behind cover-point, only to miss.

Absolute ripper! Now that's some response! Not too full, not too short either. This one spits up like a cobra and beats Ishan's attempted block on the front foot.

FOUR! Finds the gap again! Back of a length, with a little bit of width on offer, outside off. Ishan Kishan stands tall in his crease, in fact, rises on the toes and slaps it to the left of the diving point fielder to find the fence.

Keeps hitting the hard length, does Archer. Kishan prepares to play the square cut, but chops it down the strip.

FOUR! Fine touch! Kicks up from a good length, on off. Ishan Kishan rides the bounce, opens the bat face at the point of contact and finds the gap between backward point and short third for a boundary.

Short of a good length around off, and Abhishek comes charging down the track, swings hard to hit it to the off side. The ball zips past the outside edge and goes untouched.

FOUR! They say, when you flash, flash hard. Spears it full and outside the off stump. Abhishek Sharma swings his bat hard to lift it over covers, but gets a thick, healthy outside edge and the ball flies over the leaping Donovan Ferreira at first slip before racing to the fence behind.

Hits the hard length, on top of off. Abhishek Sharma blocks it watchfully.

FIVE WIDES! A wayward short ball that goes well over the head and down leg. Abhishek Sharma ducks, and it evades Jurel's leap to his right. Runs to the fence behind.

Some intent now from Sharma! On a hard length, Abhishek makes room and charges down the track to smash it downtown, but the ball bounces over the angled bat and goes just above the middle pole on its way to the keeper.

FOUR LEG BYES! Good heat from Burger, on a length, angled at the pads. Abhishek Sharma stays rooted and tries to help it behind but misses. The ball clips the thigh pad and races to the fence at deep fine leg.

Hits the hard length first up, does Burger. Abhishek gets on his toes and drops it beside the strip on the off side.

A testing first over from Jofra Archer. Serious pace on show. Nandre Burger will operate from the other end.

SIX! Geez, where did this come from? Jofra Archer looks perplexed. A well-directed bumper slipped through by Archer, over middle. Ishan initially shapes up to take on the short ball but then takes his eyes off it and ducks. The ball catches the top edge and flies over the keeper for a six. Archer feels it brushed the helmet, but the umpire signals runs.

The Rajasthan Royals strike early. Ishan Kishan comes in at number 3.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN THIS TIME! Absolute seed from Archer. Jurel redeems himself almost instantly and Archer's joy knows no bounds. Short of a good length, swinging away from middle and off. Head stays rooted to the crease, feels for it without any foot movement, and gets an outside edge. Jurel flings himself to his left, gets both hands to it low to the ground, and holds on. He lets out a huge roar. Never looked comfortable at the crease at all, did Head. Sunrisers Hyderabad are 7/1, chasing 229.

SIX! He has made that look so easy! First runs off the bat for SRH. Back of a length, slightly outside off. Travis Head arches back, gets on the toes and times it off the middle. Scythes it cleanly over deep backward point for a six.

BEATEN! Too hot to handle! Extra bounce on a good length, in the corridor of uncertainty, around off. Travis Head does not move his feet at all and goes for a waft at it, only for the ball to whistle past the outside edge.

WIDE! And again! Head throws his bat at the length ball angling outside off but misses. The ball keeps leaving the southpaw and breaches the tramline.

Hard length, just outside off, nipping away. Travis Head throws everything in the tank to slash it to the off side, but misses to connect.

EDGED AND DROPPED! Jurel shells an early chance and Archer just cannot believe it. Zips through the deck, on a good length, just around off. Travis Head is squared up as he plays from the crease and has a loose poke at it, getting a thin outside edge. The ball dips to the left of the keeper. Jurel dives in that direction, but puts it down. A huge lifeline for Head on the very first ball.

Taken, or is it? With a deep backward point in place, Hinge bangs it in short but does not offer much pace for Jadeja to work with. Ravindra hops and flays at it. Gets the height but not the distance. Travis Head moves across to his left in the deep and leans forward to take the catch. The on-field umpires want to be sure, and the third umpire is summoned for a check. The replays show that the ball burst out a bit out of Head's hands and came in contact with the turf. Not deemed as a fair catch, but the batters did not run, assuming that the catch would be taken. Not great decision-making, and not running on the final ball could prove costly. Rajasthan Royals finish with 228/6.

Right in the blockhole, around leg, Archer clears the front leg to go big on the leg side. He fails to connect and the ball deflects off the pads towards point for a leg bye.

Praful nails the yorker, on middle. Jofra drops his bat down and squeezes it out to the right of long on and the batters come charging back for the second run.

Another one bites the dust. Jofra Archer walks out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Shimron Hetmyer throws his head back in disappointment. This was there to be put away but he has picked out the fielder. Hinge attempts the yorker but it comes out as a full toss, on middle. Hetmyer's weight stays back as he heaves across the line. He gets no power on the shot and holes out to deep mid-wicket, where Nitish Kumar Reddy crouches and takes it near his waist.

Low full toss, on middle, Hetmyer swats it to the left of long on for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Nicely done! Not a bad ball at all from Hinge. He goes wide on the crease and nearly gets the yorker in. Hetmyer gets just enough width to free his arms, and he glides it with an open bat face past backward point for a boundary.

Wide! Hinge bowls the slower bumper from around the wicket, over middle. This is too high and Hetmyer lets it go.

A superb 19th over from Eshan Malinga, but can SRH finish on a high here? Praful Hinge to bowl the final over.

FOUR! Malinga misses the yorker and Jadeja makes him pay. Still, just 5 runs off the 19th over. Across off, low full toss, Jadeja swings at it and although he does not quite get hold of it, he hits it to the left of long on for a four.

Superb stuff from Malinga. Slips in a yorker, on middle. Jadeja ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and the ball goes nowhere.

Out goes Donovan Ferreira, in comes Ravindra Jadeja.

OUT! CAUGHT! Donovan Ferreira will be gutted with himself. Malinga goes searching for the yorker but it comes out as a full toss, angled towards the right-hander. Ferreira backs away slightly to launch it down the ground. He fails to get the desired elevation on the lofted hit. Hits it flat and straight down the throat of long on, where Heinrich Klaasen takes the catch around his waist.

Another yorker executed by Malinga, on middle. Hetmyer bunts it out to wide long on for just a single.

Half a shout for caught behind! Turned down by the umpire and SRH go for the review. In and around the leg stump and the length is pulled back a bit. Hetmyer shimmies down the track and has a swing across the line. He is beaten on the inside edge and the ball brushes the back pad before going through to the keeper. Was there any bat? Nope, the UltraEdge shows a flat line.

Starts well, does Malinga. A yorker, right at the toes. Shimron can't do much about it. He digs it out back to Eshan.

Sunrisers Hyderabad use their Impact Sub, bringing in Travis Head for Sakib Hussain. Also, Eshan Malinga (3-0-33-1) to bowl the penultimate over.

Sakib Hussain is substituted by Travis Head

Top work! Full and angling away, Hetmyer picks the bones out of it on the drive. Pat Cummins puts in a dive to his left at extra cover and saves a certain boundary. Just a single. 18 runs off the 18th over.

Nearly sneaked through! Skidding through, on a nagging length, on middle. Ferreira clears the front leg and has a hoick across the line. The ball catches the toe end of the blade and drops beside Donovan on the off side. Hetmyer calls him through for a quick run.

SIX! Have some of that, says Donovan Ferreira. Sakib Hussain bends his back and digs it in short, at the bodyline of the batter, but the height does not trouble Ferreira at all. He stands tall and pulls it off the front foot over backward square leg for a biggie. 16 runs off the over with a couple of balls to go.

FOUR! Gets it away! Hussain rolls his fingers over the ball and pulls the length back, on off. Ferreira swings away and rolls his wrists to get on top of the bounce. Hits it to the left of the man at deep square leg for a four.

Good comeback! A searing yorker, at the toes, Ferreira jams it out back to the bowler.

SIX! Into the stands! Sakib begins with the off-cutter at 111.8 kph, on middle. This is a bit too full, and Ferreira does not miss out. He puts his head down and dispatches it over long on for a six. The 200 comes up for RR.

Sakib Hussain replaces Praful Hinge.

Brilliant over from Cummins. A wicket and just 4 runs off it. Just 11 runs off the last 2 overs. Very full, on middle. Hetmyer gets the front pad out of the way and digs it out to mid-wicket.

Gets the yorker in, on middle. Hetmyer hurriedly drops his bat down and squeezes it out more of an inside edge through backward square leg. He takes the first run hard and comes charging back for the second.

Slanted in, on a length, on middle and leg. Donovan clears the front leg and has a swipe across the line. Gets it off the inner half but clears the man on the edge of the ring at mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep mops it up. Just a single.

The stumps get in the way. Full and straight at 139.9 kph, Ferreira backs away and forces it down the ground. Hits it a bit too straight and the ball hits the stumps at the bowling end before deflecting to mid-wicket.

Keeps it full, just outside off. Hetmyer drives it with a straight bat to long off for a single to get off the mark.

The next batter in is Shimron Hetmyer.

OUT! CASTLED! Pat Cummins wins the battle of the two skippers. Excellent execution from Pat. Right at the base of the off stump. There was no real urgency from Parag to get his bat down. The ball sneaks under the vertical blade and crashes into the off pole. Another low score for the RR captain.

Pat Cummins to bowl out now.

A couple of dots to end the over. Not at all a bad over from SRH's perspective. Just 7 off it. Bangs it in short but takes pace off this time, on off. Ferreira arches back and makes a late decision to play the upper-cut. He fails to connect.

This is better from Hinge. Switches to around the wicket and gets the height right on the short ball, over middle. Donovan sways away and drops his wrists.

SIX! That has gone back a long way! A hit-me delivery by Hinge. This is not short enough to trouble the batter, just outside off. Donovan Ferreira stands tall and pummels it way over mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Around off, on a short of a length, tapped to cover.

CHANCE! Nitish Kumar Reddy nearly pulled off a spectacular grab. On the shorter side, on off, Parag swivels and goes hard on the pull. Gets it more off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket, where Reddy flies acrobatically to his left and sticks out the right hand over his head. The ball clips his fingertips and goes away. Single taken.

Hinge hits the top of off, Parag gets on his toes and rides the bounce to punch it neatly but it goes straight to cover.

Much fuller and on middle and off, Donovan Ferreira drills it to short cover.

FOUR! Fine shot! Hard length and just outside off. Donovan Ferreira lets the ball come to him, opens the face of his bat at the last moment and crunches it past backward point for a boundary.

Pitched up and on middle, Riyan Parag plays a mini-helicopter down to long on for another run.

Good length and on off, Riyan Parag drives it on the up wide of sweeper cover, but the fielder makes a good sliding stop to keep it down to two runs.

Short of a length and outside off, Donovan Ferreira steers it through point for a run.

Back of a length and around off, Riyan Parag punches it through cover-point for a single.

FOUR! Ferreira is up and running. Pace taken off by Sakib and he serves it full, outside off. Donovan extends his hands and unleashes the drive all along the ground between cover and mid off to get going.

Wide! Banged in short but down leg, Donovan Ferreira ducks under it.

The Jaipur crowd rises as one to applaud a superlative knock from the youngster. The entire RR dugout is up on its feet. Donovan Ferreira walks in ahead of Shimron Hetmyer.

OUT! LBW! Sakib Hussain with a comeback of his own. Hundred and out for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but it was an outstanding knock from him. A slower delivery, full and around middle. Vaibhav tries to be cheeky and goes for the reverse scoop, but due to the lack of pace, misses and gets hit on the pads. There is a shout for LBW, and up goes the finger. Looks pretty straight, but he takes the review. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved, and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds, with the ball hitting the off stump.

SIX! HUNDRED FOR SOORYAVANSHI! A knock of the highest order, and he is writing his own history. His second century in the IPL, and he is still in his teens, which makes it even more special. Fuller delivery, on middle and off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets his front leg out of the way and smacks it over the long on fence for a biggie. He forms a heart with his hands and gives a salute to revel in the moment.

FOUR! Up and over! Pitched up and just around off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi moves a bit to the leg side to make some room and pumps it over mid off for a boundary.

SIX! He is just making it look easy now! A slower delivery, short of a length and down the leg side, there to be hit. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets down on one knee, waits for it and swipes it over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie. He moves into the 90s now.

Good length and on off, Riyan Parag drops it to the off side for a quick single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The Rajasthan Royals are set up nicely with plenty of batting still to come. For the Sunrisers Hyderabad, this is a chance to pull things back by getting as many balls as possible at Riyan Parag, who hasn't been in the best of touch this season, and try to sneak in a quiet phase. Pat Cummins has kept the scoring in check, but SRH will need the likes of Sakib Hussain and Eshan Malinga to come back strongly. Hussain to bowl after the break. 2-0-22-0 so far for Sakib.

On a length and on middle, Riyan Parag pats it towards mid on for one.

Fuller and on off, Riyan Parag pushes it to short cover.

OUT! CAUGHT! Fifty and out for Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy gets a crucial breakthrough for his side. Hard-length delivery, just around off. Dhruv Jurel looks to heave it across the line but gets undone by the extra pace and bounce and his bat also turns in his hand. The ball goes high in the air towards extra cover, where Aniket Verma moves forward and takes a safe catch. End of the big 112-run stand and Rajasthan Royals are 152/2. RR's captain, Riyan Parag makes his way out to bat.

10 runs off the over so far.

WIDE! Hard length and angling down the leg, Dhruv Jurel fails to make any contact. Another wide.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR JUREL! He brings up his third half-century of the season and he will look to change gears now. Overpitched delivery, on off, Jurel shows the full face of the bat and plays a classy drive, beating to mid off to his right for a boundary. He punches the air, celebrating the milestone.

WIDE! Short of a length just down the leg side, Dhruv Jurel tries to pull it away but misses. Called a wide.

Pitched up and on middle, angling in, Dhruv Jurel tucks it to mid-wicket.

EDGED AND FOUR! Fuller delivery and around off, holds its line, draws the batter into the drive. Dhruv Jurel gets a thick outside edge and the ball races to the third man fence for a boundary.

SRH use their 6th bowling option of the night. Here is Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Good comeback! Slower through the air, full and around off, turns away. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi goes for the slog again but loses his body shape and misses.

The two senior pros, Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins, are having a quick word with Shivang Kumar.

SIX! Going, going, gone! Tossed up, full and around middle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets this one right in his slot. He clears his front leg away and slogs it powerfully over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. That also brings up the 100-RUN STAND between these two batters.

FOUR! Gets innovative! Shivang Kumar sees the batter switch his stance and drags his length back, on middle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waits for it before reverse-pulling it over point for a boundary. He is showing all his skills now.

Flighted, full and on leg, Dhruv Jurel gets down and paddles it to short fine for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! A wrong'un, full and around off. Dhruv Jurel gets down on one knee, switches his stance and executes the reverse sweep over short third for a boundary.

Flatter and shorter, outside off, angles away, Dhruv Jurel misses out on his cut.

Time for spin as Shivang Kumar (1-0-16-0) has been brought back into the attack.

Bangs this into the pitch, around off, slower as well. Dhruv Jurel punches it through covers for a single.

FOUR! Nice shot! Short and wide outside off. Dhruv Jurel uses the width on offer and cuts it away through backward point. The ball races through the turf and Aniket Verma in the deep dives to his right, but only manages to parry it to the fence for a boundary.

New balls, please! That has gone out of the ground. The fourth umpire is out with the box of balls. A conference in the middle between Malinga, Cummins and Klaasen.

SIX! The sweet sound of the bat! Eshan Malinga bowls a length ball, on middle, angling in a bit. Dhruv Jurel walks across the stumps and using his wrists, he smokes it over the deep square leg fence, out of the park for a 101-METRE biggie.

Short of a length and outside off, takes pace off, Dhruv Jurel hops up and cuts it through cover-point for a brace.

Good length and on off, Dhruv Jurel pats it in front of point and calls for the run but is sent back.

WIDE! Errs in line and serves this full but down the leg side, Dhruv Jurel fails to glance it away.

Low full toss, on leg, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi crouches low and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Going away, on a back of a length. Sooryavanshi gets on top of the bounce and taps it away towards extra cover. He scampers across for a quick single but a fumble from Eshan Malinga allows the batters to complete the run with ease. 8 runs off the over. Not that bad an over from SRH's perspective, considering the way the game has gone so far.

Tighter line and the length is dragged back, on off. Vaibhav swings for the hills but loses his shape in the process. Bunts it back down towards the bowler.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Praful bowls the off-pace delivery and looks to push it away from the batter. It is not wide enough, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is able to reach it. Slams it hard and wide of the man at long off for his third four.

Angled into the pads, on a nagging length. Jurel nudges it in front of deep square leg. He takes the first run hard and looks for the second but eventually they settle with a single as the fielder was quick to get to the ball.

Hinge takes pace off and bowls it at 113.5 kph, full and on middle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has a big heave across the line but loses his shape. Gets it off the inner half to deep square leg for a single.

Delivers it around the off stump, on a length. Dhruv punches it to cover. The fielder dives to his right and makes a half-stop. The ball rolls behind and the batters cross for one.

SIX! Launched down the ground! Sakib Hussain misses his mark and serves it right in the slot, on off and middle. Sooryavanshi gets under it and brings his bottom hand into play to tonk it straight back over the bowler's head. The 100 comes up for RR.

TOUGH CHANCE! Sakib Hussain in the wars once again. On a length, on off, Jurel smacks it straight back at the bowler. Sakib gets both hands together to his right, more as an evasive action as he tries to sway away out of the line of the ball. Gets hit hard on the right hand before the ball drops to the ground.

Very full, on middle, Vaibhav wrists it through mid-wicket for a run.

Missed out! A juicy low full toss, outside off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi extends his hands and firms the drive but can't get it past Pat Cummins at mid off.

Looks like Sakib Hussain has hurt his left thumb while trying to stop the ball. He straightaway points to the physio. The physio applies the magic spray and is also taping up the thumb. Sakib is good to go again.

Well bowled! In the blockhole, just outside the off stump. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi clears the front leg to force it down the ground. He cannot get under it and hits it down the wicket. Sakib Hussain makes a sharp stop by getting low to his left on the follow-through. Seems to have taken a cut on the left hand and calls for the physio straightaway.

Around the off stump, on a good length, Jurel pushes it down to long on for a single.

Fuller and at the stumps, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi goes deep in the crease and has a big swing across the line. Ekes out an inside edge onto the back leg and it rolls behind the stumps on the leg side. Ishan Kishan gets to the ball and cuts down the possibility of a single. Just 3 runs off the over. First over in this innings that went without a boundary.

Cummins hurls it at 138.4 kph, on a back of a length, around off. Dhruv guides it down to deep third and gets to the other end.

Low full toss, on the pads, flicked to deep backward square leg for a run.

Tight single! This jags back in again, on a short of a length, on off and middle. Jurel is cramped for room on the pull and mishits it beside the strip on the leg side. Aniket Verma at a catching mid-wicket position, moves to his left and releases an underarm throw at the bowling end but misses. Dhruv gets home with a dive.

Goes past the bat! In the channel, on a back of a length, Dhruv looks to run it down to deep third with an open bat face. A bit of nip back into the right-hander along with some extra bounce to beat Jurel on the outside edge.

Honing in on the off stump, on a good length, Dhruv stabs it down the deck watchfully.

Pat Cummins is back on.

FOUR! The 50-run stand comes up in real quick time. A bit of air given by Shivang this time but offers width again, on a length. Sooryavanshi frees his arms and swings through the line. Thumps it flat and to the left of long off for a one-bounce boundary. 16 runs off the first over of spin.

SIX! A poor delivery and it gets the treatment. It does not quite come out of the hand right for Shivang Kumar. A real half-tracker and too wide as well. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lets the ball come to him and spanks it with a flat bat towards the sight screen.

Shorter and wider on off, Jurel cuts it away to deep point and crosses over.

Better from Shivang. Sticks to the googly but the length is pulled back and the line is tighter, on the off stump. Dhruv stays back to pat it down the strip.

FOUR! Lovely shot! At 94.7 kph, Kumar floats it up but ends up being a bit too full, outside off. Dhruv reaches out and creams the drive all along the ground past cover for a four.

Drifting onto the pads, Vaibhav knocks this full ball to long on for a single.

Strategic Break! A vast difference from the last meeting, where the Rajasthan Royals were 9/5 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, but here, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has gone berserk. A 15-ball fifty, and he is just dealing in sixes, already hitting 7. SRH are under pressure here and Aniket Verma dropping Vaibhav did not help their cause. Cummins needs to gather his troops and pull things back in the middle overs, and they will know that RR's middle order has not been that effective this season. Time for some spin now as Shivang Kumar comes into the attack.

PUT DOWN! A sharp chance goes down. Hussain serves it on a length, on off. Jurel pushes out in front of his body. He fails to keep the drive along the ground and hits it firmly back towards the bowler. Sakib has no time to react and he cannot get both hands together to take the catch. It catches the bowler on the forearm and rolls to mid off. End of an action-packed Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, the Rajasthan Royals are 76/1.

Hussain takes pace off and goes into the wicket, over middle. Vaibhav shovels it behind square leg for a single.

SIX! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets to his FIFTY in style. Ian Bishop informs that Sooryavanshi becomes the youngest batter in T20 history to get to 1,000 runs in the format. Back of a length, going across the batter. Vaibhav stays back and drags the pull over wide long on for a six. Sooryavanshi brings up a 15-ball half-century for the second time this season.

Hits the top of off, does Hussain. Dhruv hangs back and nudges it to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Wide! Banged in short but down the leg side. Dhruv lets it go.

FOUR! Put away! Sakib goes searching for the yorker, but it comes out as a full toss, around off. Jurel does not miss out as he punches it down the ground to the left of mid on for a boundary.

Right on the money! Nice and full, attacking the sticks. Jurel brings his bat out in front and pushes it to cover.

A dot to end the over. Pace off, low full toss and on off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smears it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

SIX! No one will catch that! Back of a length but down the leg side. The form Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in, he is not going to miss out on that and he hooks it over the deep fine leg fence for another biggie.

Uppish but safe! Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, takes off again. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets hurried on his cut and slices it. It goes in the air but lands well over the extra cover fielder. Two taken.

Two dots in a row! Hard length and around off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi pats it towards mid off.

Good bowling! Short of a length and just outside off, takes off sharply at a good pace. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi swings hard but gets beaten by the pace and bounce.

DROPPED AND FOUR! Could prove to be very costly for SRH. Back of a length and around leg, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi heaves it away wide of deep mid-wicket but gets it more from the inner half of the bat. Aniket Verma runs to his right and tries to grab it with both hands, but juggles and spills it. He gets up and dives to stop the boundary, but as he gets up to throw, his right foot touches the ropes. Salt to the wounds as the third umpire confirms it is a boundary.

FOUR! Much more in control! Short of a length and outside off. Dhruv Jurel gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for another boundary. 50 UP FOR RR. 25 runs in the first over, 26 in the next three. SRH have pulled things back a bit here.

Goes fuller again, on middle, straightens a bit, Dhruv Jurel gets squared up again but manages to tap it towards short cover.

Back of a length and around off, Dhruv Jurel opens the face of his bat and steers it but fails to beat the fly slip this time. He wants the run but is sent back in time.

FOUR! Just over! Pitched up and on off, Dhruv Jurel uses his feet and goes hard at it but gets a thick outside edge. It flies just over Sakib Hussain at a fly slip for a boundary.

Touch fuller and around off, skids through a bit, Dhruv Jurel looks to guide it to third man but gets a bit late. It takes the bottom edge and bounces behind the stumps.

Just short! Fuller delivery and around leg, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi whips it aerially, but not with much timing. It flies towards deep square leg, where Praful Hinge runs to his right and then goes to his front, but the ball lands just ahead of him. A single taken.

Pat Cummins to continue. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the Punjab Kings have done the unthinkable, chasing down 265 with 7 balls to spare, powered by Prabhsimran Singh (76 off 26) and Shreyas Iyer (71* off 36). Watching a game like that, you do wonder, what is a safe score these days?

Slower one, on a length and around off, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi steers it wide of backward point for a run.

Short of a length and on middle, Dhruv Jurel pulls it away to deep square leg for a single.

Hard length and on off, Dhruv Jurel keeps it out to the off side.

BEAUTY! Good-length delivery, in that channel outside off, holds its line. Dhruv Jurel gets squared up, trying to have a poke at it. The ball just goes past the outside edge.

Eshan Malinga continues to impress this season. Dhruv Jurel walks out at number 3 for RR.

OUT! TAKEN! Eshan Malinga strikes in his first over. He bangs this hard into the deck, on middle, gets some steep bounce. Yashasvi Jaiswal, without moving his feet, goes for the pull shot but is cramped for space. It gets spooned off the lower half of the blade behind mid on, where Heinrich Klaasen backtracks a bit and takes a good catch. RR are 40/1.

FOUR! You cannot bowl there! Back of a length but down the leg side, begging to be put away. Yashasvi Jaiswal just has to get some bat on it and he helps it on its way to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Praful Hinge has been taken out of the attack after a 25-run first over. Eshan Malinga replaces him.

SIX! Sheer power! A well-directed bumper, on off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looks to pull but has to drag his shot a bit. He uses his shoulder strength as the ball goes sailing over the deep mid-wicket fence for his fifth biggie already.

Short of a length and around leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal moves back and pulls it away to deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length and on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal pats it down in front of cover.

Uppish but safe! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle and leg. Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to pull it away but gets rushed on the shot. It hits him high on the bat and lobs up towards mid on but lands well ahead of the fielder.

Good length and around off, Yashasvi Jaiswal pushes it away to cover.

FOUR! Welcome to the IPL 2026, Pat Cummins! He begins with a full delivery around off. Yashasvi Jaiswal leans on his drive and creams it through covers for a boundary.

How's that for a start, folks? Strap in, this should be fun. The SRH skipper, Pat Cummins will steam in from the other end.

SIX! Make that four on the trot! Another full delivery, on middle and leg, trying to cramp the batter. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi clears the front leg and lofts it with a straight bat over the long on fence for half a dozen more. 25 runs off the first over. This kid is special.

SIX! Three in a row and this is the best one of the lot! Hinge keeps the length full and on off. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi backs away a bit to access the off side. He hits it through the line and dispatches it over the long off fence with ease for the third six of the over.

SIX MORE! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's show has started. Fuller delivery, angling into the pads. Vaibhav makes the most of it, picking it up and whipping it over the fine leg fence for another biggie.

SIX! Connects this time and this is a monster hit! Praful Hinge bangs this into the pitch, on middle and leg. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi picks up the length in a trice and hammers it over the deep square leg fence, into the second tier for a biggie.

Swing and a miss! Touch fuller and just around off, angling it away. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stays back and has a big slog across the line but fails to connect.

RR are underway! Praful Hinge starts with a short-of-length delivery, outside off. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets on top of it and cuts it to deep point for a single.

We are all set to get going. A near-packed house already, and it will not be long before every seat is taken. Pat Cummins leads his troops out to the centre. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced his arrival here in Jaipur last season with a scintillating hundred. He walks out to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Back into the side tonight, Praful Hinge will take the new ball for SRH. Jaiswal to face the first ball. Here we go!

What’s happening in Delhi? Punjab Kings are flying at 193/3 at the end of 14 overs. They need 72 off the last 6 overs, and given the conditions and the short boundaries, they will be confident of getting the job done from here. If Punjab pull this off, they will break their own record for the highest successful run chase in IPL history, when they chased down 262 against KKR in 2024.

Impact sub options for SRH - Ravichandran Smaran, Travis Head, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey and Harshal Patel.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (WK), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C) (In for Dilshan Madushanka), Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga and Praful Hinge (In for Harsh Dubey).

Impact sub options for RR - Ravi Bishnoi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Sandeep Sharma and Shubham Dubey.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande (In for Shubham Dubey), Nandre Burger and Brijesh Sharma.

Important to play well across all 40 overs - The captain of the Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag says they would have bowled first as well, but given their record while chasing, they do not mind batting first. He adds that the side has played a lot of cricket here and understands the conditions well. Riyan mentions there could be a bit of dew later on, but does not expect it to play a major role. He stresses the need to be clinical, noting that last year they fell short despite playing good cricket for large phases, and that a couple of overs here and there can make all the difference in the IPL. Parag also highlights the importance of the middle order stepping up, including himself, and confirms that they are going in with a combination of four pacers and one spinner.

Looking forward to seeing how the body holds up - The skipper of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins says that the wicket looks good and they want to know what they are going to chase. Adds that he feels fresh, his body feels good, and although he has not played competitive cricket for a while, he has had a couple of good sessions and wants to see how it goes. Cummins mentions that Kishan has done a fantastic job as a skipper, winning four of the seven games and playing a good, aggressive brand of cricket. Says that the challenge playing away from home is to sense what a good score will be, but this is the first game at this venue this season, so it will be challenging for both sides. Informs that he has replaced Dilshan Madushanka, and Praful Hinge comes in for Harsh Dubey.

TOSS - Time for the coin to go up. Pat Cummins returns to lead SRH for the first time this season. Riyan Parag gives it a flick. 'Heads' is the call from Pat, and he gets it right. Sunrisers Hyderabad opt to BOWL first.

How's Travis Head feeling? Head says they have had some good results and are in an exciting position in the standings. Shares that the side has a good mix of senior players and youngsters, which gives them the flexibility to adapt to different venues and surfaces. Travis highlights the strong squad mentality, with everyone stepping up and playing their part. Mentions that Pat Cummins is looking good after putting in a lot of work over the last couple of days. Shares that for him, it is about contributing in whatever way he can to the team's win. 

Words from the RR camp - Dasun Shanaka says he is feeling good despite not getting a game yet and is enjoying the company of the group. He adds that it is a great competition to be part of, and he is excited to be here in Jaipur. Speaking about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shanaka mentions that he witnessed Vaibhav's hundred here last year when he (Shanaka) was with the Gujarat Titans and calls it one of the best innings in the IPL. He says it is hard to imagine a 15-year-old playing like that. When asked if he is sharing any tips with Sooryavanshi, Dasun smiles and says that he has actually been getting advice from the youngster. Dasun adds that there is a lot to play for tonight and is pleased with how the first part of the tournament has gone, with plenty of learnings along the way. Shanaka remains hopeful of getting a game soon.

PITCH REPORT - Danny Morrison is pitchside. He informs that the centre wicket will be used tonight, which results in the square boundary dimensions being 65 metres on either side and 76 metres straight down the ground. WV Raman shares that this venue has generally been good for batting. Further says that the curator mentioned that the surface has been worked on for about a week and is nicely rolled, so the tradition of it being a good batting wicket is likely to continue. Raman ends by saying that the local inputs suggest there won’t be much dew around, which could tempt captains to bat first.

Batting might, pace fight - It is a similar story for both sides, with a strong dependence on top-order firepower backed by quality pace attacks. Sunrisers Hyderabad have thrived on a dominant top four that consistently sets the tone and drives big totals, while the expected return of Pat Cummins further strengthens their bowling unit. For the Rajasthan Royals, the balance is much the same. Their top order lays the platform, but it is their pace attack that provides the real edge.

Turning our attention to Jaipur - The Pink City finally gets its first taste of IPL 2026 as the Rajasthan Royals return home to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, a venue that has long been a fortress for them, but this homecoming comes with a serious test. Standing in their way are the in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad, a side that has dominated this matchup in recent times. SRH lead the overall head-to-head 13-9 and have won each of the last five encounters between the two teams, including a comprehensive 57-run victory earlier this season.

Saturday madness - Hello, one and all! It is the last double-header Saturday of the season, and the day is off to a crazy start. In Delhi, riding on an unbeaten 152 from KL Rahul and a blistering 91 from Nitish Rana, the Capitals posted 264, the highest total of the season so far. In reply, the Punjab Kings have raced to 116 in the first six overs, yes, you read that right. We also take a moment to pray for the well-being of South African quick Lungi Ngidi, who, in an attempt to take a catch, suffered an unfortunate head injury. He had to be stretchered off the field in an ambulance, and that is the last thing you want to see on a cricket field.

... MATCH DAY ...

Khamma Ghani, Jaipur - The 2026 Indian Premier League pays its first visit to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium this season as the Rajasthan Royals host the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Royals played their first three home games in Guwahati and turned it into a fortress, winning all their fixtures there. They will now hope to do the same in Jaipur with four more home games to come. As for the Sunrisers, they travel up north from Hyderabad to the Pink City in the pink of form, riding on a hat-trick of wins. Back on track after a wobble - The Royals started strong with four wins in a row before losing two on the trot, but arrested that slide with a hard-fought win over Lucknow Super Giants. A below-190 score in a full 20-over game had not been defended successfully this season until the Royals did it, and that should give them plenty of confidence going forward. Pace power for the Royals - Out of the 52 wickets picked up so far, 32 have come from the seamers, with Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer alone accounting for 19 of those. They have also set the tone early really well. In their 7 games so far, there has been just one instance where the Royals have gone wicketless in the Powerplay, and on 5 occasions they have picked up 3 or more wickets in that phase. Runs up top, gaps in the middle - The trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel has been the backbone of the RR batting, contributing a major share of the runs so far. In Lucknow, it was the second time in three games that the top three fell inside the Powerplay. Contributions from Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja helped them get to a fighting total, which is encouraging. There are still concerns around skipper Riyan Parag (81 runs in 7 innings) and Shimron Hetmyer (61 runs in 5 innings), and RR will be hoping those two can find form soon. From slow start to strong run - Just one win in the first four games, but since then, it has been an excellent turnaround for the Sunrisers with three wins on the bounce at home. They now hit the road, hoping to carry that momentum forward. Bowlers lead the revival - A big part of that shift has come with the ball. In the absence of Pat Cummins, you might have expected senior names like Jaydev Unadkat or Harshal Patel to lead the charge, but it has been the younger bowlers who have stepped up. Eshan Malinga has been the standout, and Sakib Hussain has made a strong impression in his debut season. Dilshan Madushanka also impressed in the last game, and with Pat Cummins expected to play against the Royals, things are looking good on the bowling front. The numbers tell the story - In the first four games, where they lost three, they picked up 20 wickets at a strike rate of 21.1 and an average of 36.65. In the three wins since, they have taken 27 wickets at an average of 19.81 and a strike rate of 13.1. One firing, one searching - 82, 75 and 97, those are the opening stands in three of their four wins, which tells you how important the starts from Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been. Out of the 393 runs from the opening pair, 323 have come from Abhishek, while Head has struggled for fluency in the last few games. If we look at just the last three matches, his strike rate has been 121.87, which is uncharacteristic of him, and he will be keen to find his rhythm soon. One constant, though, has been Heinrich Klaasen, who has put together 7 consecutive 30-plus scores this season, converting 3 of those into fifties. Team form (Last 5 completed games, recent first) - RR - WLLWW | SRH - WWWLL. A run-fest loading? The average first-innings score in the 5 night games here last season in Jaipur was 199, and the overall run rate at this ground was 9.99, the third highest among venues that hosted at least 5 games, so we could be in for a high-scoring contest. One-sided rivalry - It has been a bit of a lopsided rivalry in recent times, with the Sunrisers winning the last five meetings between these two sides. The Royals didn't have a great time in Jaipur last year either, managing just 1 win in 5 games here in 2025, but that is in the past, and they will be looking at this as a fresh start.